News 'n Views - May 2016: The Lakers' adjusted culture could pay dividends going forward
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lakersfreak
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PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2016 11:33 pm    Post subject:

Ben Simmons' camp wants the Lakers to draft him
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

Does it make him more likely to get what he wants?

There are plenty of reasons for Ben Simmons, the presumptive first or second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, to find the idea of the being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers appealing. The weather is great, the area is beautiful, and he would get to reunite with his former high school teammate D'Angelo Russell. His camp reportedly does want him to end up in Los Angeles, but not for any of those reasons.

Simmons' representatives want him to end up with the Lakers in hopes of Nike improving the shoe endorsement deal they are currently offering the freshman phenom out of LSU, according to Nick DePaula of the Vertical.

"The thinking from Simmons' camp is straightforward and simple: It's the Los Angeles Lakers or bust," writes DePaula, who reports that both Nike and Adidas are offering Simmons five-year deals, but that "Adidas is offering a $10 million deal that also includes a $2 million signing bonus and a $1 million incentive bonus for being named Rookie of the Year," while Nike has a "$7.5 million over five years with fewer performance incentives than the Adidas contract structure" on the table.

These less than satisfactory offers have led Simmons' representation to decide to wait until after the draft to sign, hoping either side will improve their offer if Simmons lands in Los Angeles:

[Simmons' agents are] hoping that if the Lakers land the top overall pick - which they have a 19.9 percent chance of doing - Nike will move closer to matching adidas' offer.

Market size has mattered less in today's social-media age, where signature stars like Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard and LeBron James have established themselves in historically lesser markets. But the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks will continue to be the exceptions that brands consistently focus on. For the first time in 20 seasons, the Lakers will not have Kobe Bryant next year, opening the door for a new face of the franchise.


This report would seem to poke a pretty large hole in the idea that market size doesn't matter to big name players, something consistently cited as a reason the Lakers have missed on free agents the past several offseasons. It seems that may come with a caveat: market may not matter to the biggest names, ones who will get gigantic shoe deals no matter where they play, but for players like Simmons on less sure (pardon the pun) footing, location still makes a difference.

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PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2016 11:35 pm    Post subject:

Lakers have a lot riding on the NBA draft lottery, but GM Mitch Kupchak doesn't want to talk about it
by Mike Bresnahan - latimes.com

Mitch Kupchak refuses to talk about the Lakers' lottery possibilities. He doesn't want to jinx anything.

He's not the type to turn and run when a black cat approaches, but there's a reason the Lakers' general manager is heavily superstitious right now. There's a lot at stake Tuesday in the NBA draft lottery.

The Lakers will find out at about 5:15 p.m. PDT whether they'll keep their top three-protected first-round pick.

They have a 55.8% chance of keeping it and a 44.2% chance of their executives, coaches and fans dropping into the fetal position. It would not be good to lose the pick after managing only 17 victories over 5 1/2 grueling months.

They'll still have a second-round selection but, really, that's not what anybody celebrates after the worst season in franchise history.

"Right now, all we have is the 32nd pick," Kupchak said recently. "I'm not really going to talk about the other pick because we don't have it. I mentioned earlier that I'm superstitious. I don't like the whole karma part of that.

"I'm not nearly as superstitious as my predecessor was, Jerry West. There was a light at the Forum, a traffic light that he would never drive underneath. So I'm not that superstitious. But I'm superstitious enough not to want to talk about a pick we don't have."

That's OK. Plenty of other people are discussing it.

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PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2016 11:36 pm    Post subject:

D'Angelo Russell's offseason dribbling workout looks intense
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

Russell is working hard in the offseason.

Not long after the Los Angeles Lakers season ended, rookie point guard D'Angelo Russell was already back in the gym. The offseason has seen some good news for Russell, like when it was announced he and teammate Julius Randle had been invited to join Team USA's select team that will play against the candidates to head to the Olympics, but it wasn't without its disappointments as well.

The NBA announced that Russell had finished ninth overall in Rookie of the Year voting on Monday, and while it is an honor to be considered one of the top ten rookies in such a loaded class, the relatively low finish was probably at least a little disappointing for the second overall pick in the draft.

Russell seems to be taking the small slight in stride, however, and posted a video on Instagram to subtly let Lakers fans know he was already back in the gym working on improving his game:

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PostPosted: Mon May 16, 2016 11:37 pm    Post subject:

Former Lakers forward Jim McMillian dies at 68
by Mike Bresnahan - latimes.com

Former Lakers forward Jim McMillian died Monday at age 68.

He died from complications of heart failure at a hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after being in failing health in recent months, according to his sister-in-law Denise Sheridan.

McMillian was the third-leading scorer on the Lakers' 1971-72 team that won the franchise's first championship in Los Angeles and had a 33-game win streak that still stands as an NBA record.

He averaged 19.1 points in replacing retired Elgin Baylor at forward, a move that coincided with the start of the team's winning streak. The roster included Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston, Keith Erickson and Pat Riley. They were coached by Bill Sharman.

McMillian was an “important part of Lakers history,” team President Jeanie Buss said Monday in a statement that also expressed condolences to McMillian's friends and family.

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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 12:47 am    Post subject:

Not that other top draft prospects never worry about shoe deals. But every time something is written about Ben, I like him less and less. Whoever drafts him will need to get his priorities straight.
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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 1:31 am    Post subject:

If we're drawn out of the top 2, I think Silver gives us a mulligan for 'basketball reasons'.
Wouldn't that be something
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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 6:07 am    Post subject:

lakersfreak wrote:
Former Lakers forward Jim McMillian dies at 68
by Mike Bresnahan - latimes.com

Former Lakers forward Jim McMillian died Monday at age 68.

He died from complications of heart failure at a hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after being in failing health in recent months, according to his sister-in-law Denise Sheridan.

McMillian was the third-leading scorer on the Lakers' 1971-72 team that won the franchise's first championship in Los Angeles and had a 33-game win streak that still stands as an NBA record.

He averaged 19.1 points in replacing retired Elgin Baylor at forward, a move that coincided with the start of the team's winning streak. The roster included Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Happy Hairston, Keith Erickson and Pat Riley. They were coached by Bill Sharman.

McMillian was an “important part of Lakers history,” team President Jeanie Buss said Monday in a statement that also expressed condolences to McMillian's friends and family.

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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 7:59 am    Post subject:

Ben Simmons' shoe deal reportedly hinges on whether Lakers score No. 1 pick


There is a lot riding on Tuesday's NBA Draft lottery, and not just for the teams involved.
Former LSU forward and top prospect Ben Simmons is reportedly waiting on the outcome of the lottery before signing his sneaker deal, according to The Vertical. The reason, per the report, hinges on the belief by Simmons' management that they'd gain more leverage in negotiations should the Lakers score the first overall pick.

The Vertical reported Simmons has received five-year endorsement offers from market rivals Nike and adidas. But Nike's offer of $7.5 million is significantly less than the $10 million adidas is dangling, including a $2 million signing bonus and a $1 million incentive bonus for winning rookie of the year.


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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 8:14 am    Post subject:

Lakers would look to trade the No. 3 pick
by Gary Kester - lakersoutsiders.com

Today is the big day for the Los Angeles Lakers, the day of the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery. If their first round pick stays in the top three selections, they will retain it. If it falls to fourth or fifth, the pick will be conveyed to the Philadelphia 76ers, finally closing out the Steve Nash trade from 2012.

At 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time this evening, the lottery will begin on ESPN prior to the start of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Despite not knowing the fate of the draft pick, there has been endless speculation on what the Lakers will do if it stays in their possession. Should they trade it or keep it? The rumors have ranged from adding another young prospect to their roster to attempting a trade for Indiana’s Paul George.

Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons are the consensus top-two picks in the 2016 NBA Draft. Starting with the 3rd pick, though, nobody knows what will happen.

However, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford, if the Lakers end up in that No. 3 slot, they will look to trade the pick (h/t NBC Sports).

Multiple sources said at the combine this week that they expect the pick to be in play if it’s No. 3 — with the Lakers looking for a young veteran in return.

Ford was specific about the pick being No. 3, perhaps implying that the Lakers would hold on to the pick if it lands in the top two, giving them the opportunity to select Ingram or Simmons. The latter has reportedly made it clear that he wants to continue wearing purple and gold next season.

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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 8:15 am    Post subject:

Lakers waiting, hoping for top-three pick in NBA draft lottery
by Mark Medina - ocregister.com

Often at this time of year, the Lakers’ success hinges on a winning shot or a key defensive stop in the playoffs.

For the third consecutive year, however, the Lakers’ fortunes will rest on another variable.

After the Lakers finished with their worst record in franchise history for the second consecutive season, their happiness cannot rest on a championship parade as it did 16 other times. Instead, it all depends on whether a machine produces the correct four-number pingpong ball combination.

The Lakers have a 55.8 percent chance of landing a top-three pick here at the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday (5p.m., ESPN), representing a consolation prize for having the league’s second-worst record.

That also means the Lakers have only a 19.9 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. They also have a 44.2 percent chance of losing their first-round pick and experiencing something perhaps as frustrating as a season filled with limitations due to an aging Kobe Bryant and a mostly inexperienced supporting cast.

Should the Lakers fall out of the top three, they will have to send the pick to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the 2012 trade with Phoenix for Steve Nash. The Lakers delayed that scenario last year after climbing in the draft from the fourth spot to No. 2 – even though they had only a 12.6 percent chance of doing so.

That prompted General Manager Mitch Kupchak to open a champagne bottle for himself and other members of the Lakers’ front office in Los Angeles. The Lakers used that pick to select Ohio State point guard D’Angelo Russell, whose potential as a playmaker and scorer intrigued the Lakers.

With Kupchak serving as the Lakers’ draft representative on the dais at a New York hotel, will his night end with another champagne bottle? Or will it entail even more sorrow after the past season?

Kupchak said recently he has refused to presume he will bring the Lakers good luck. As much as he does not want to disrupt any positive karma, Kupchak also has already prepared for the worst-case scenario.

That would not include LSU’s Ben Simmons, Duke’s Brandon Ingram or an additional asset to dangle in a trade. Yet, Kupchak highlighted some other realities that will not depend on their draft lottery fortunes.

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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 8:19 am    Post subject:

Players the Lakers should consider with the 32nd pick
by Dillon Hiser - lakersoutsiders.com

With the NBA Draft Lottery quickly approaching, many Laker fans are starting to feel nervous about the idea of losing the team’s first round pick to Philadelphia. Although there would be obvious benefits from retaining the pick and adding another young piece or trying to move it in a deal to acquire a veteran, keeping the pick isn’t a necessity like it was a year ago.

Regardless of what happens on May 17th, the team will have the 32nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. While this year’s class may not be a vast field of franchise changing players it does have some intriguing prospects later in the draft. In recent years, the Lakers have had a knack for finding prospects later in the draft that can contribute right away with Jordan Clarkson (46th overall, 2014) and Larry Nance (27th overall, 2015). Hopefully, the purple and gold can strike again in the same fashion.

The Lakers have already started piling up a list of players for pre-draft workouts and conducted a few interviews during the NBA pre-draft combine. There will be numerous names to go through the workout process with the Lakers which all-in-all is a good sign as the front office gathers as much information as possible.

There is a legitimate chance to get another player that can provide an impact for the team with this pick and here are a few names to watch going into the draft.

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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 12:39 pm    Post subject:

L.A. Favors Ben Simmons Over Brandon Ingram
by Corey Hansford - lakersnation.com

The Los Angeles Lakers will soon find out where they land in the 2016 NBA Draft Lottery. The team has a 19.9 percent chance of landing the top pick and if they do so, will have a difficult choice to make between top prospects Ben Simmons of LSU and Brandon Ingram of Duke.

Simmons has long been considered the top prospect in this class while Ingram rose in the ranks throughout the college season and each player brings a completely different skill-set.

Reportedly, Simmons and his representatives are hoping he gets drafted by the Lakers in order to help him secure a better shoe deal. According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, the Lakers also favor Simmons to Ingram:

If Lakers get No. 1? Major debate in front office between Simmons-Ingram. Ingram a better fit. But team leans Simmons b/c of star potential
12:13 PM - 17 May 2016


The Lakers can’t go wrong either way, but they’re line of thinking is in line with what most scouts believe. Simmons’ ceiling is believed to be higher than that of Ingram and a team in the Lakers’ position, in need of a star, is likely to go with the higher potential player than one who ‘fits’ better.

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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 12:42 pm    Post subject:

2016 NBA Draft Lottery Schedule - Live Stream

Date: Tuesday, May 17
Start Time: 5:00 p.m. PST
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Arena: Barclay’s Center
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: ESPN <- click here
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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 4:30 pm    Post subject:

Lakers Win #2 Pick in 2016 NBA Draft
by espn.go.com

The Philadelphia 76ers, who wrapped up the third year of former GM Sam Hinkie's tanking plan with a league-worst 10-72 record, landed the first pick of the 2016 NBA draft in the league's annual lottery.

Entering the lottery, Philadelphia had an NBA-high 26.9 percent chance of landing the top pick.

The Los Angeles Lakers landed the second pick, with the Boston Celtics drawing the third choice, the Phoenix Suns the fourth and the Minnesota Timberwolves the fifth.

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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 10:11 pm    Post subject:

Lakers happy with backcourt, want to improve frontcourt
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

That certainly sounds like Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram.

The Los Angeles Lakers got great news on Tuesday night when they found out they would receive the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, especially considering they could have lost the pick to the Philadelphia 76ers had it fallen outside of the top-three selections.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak was the team's on-stage representative at the lottery, and despite the good news, it didn't sound like he enjoyed his time in New York. "[The lottery was] drama that really, at this stage of my life, is unnecessary," Kupchak told Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times following the event.

Once he recovers from the stress of the event, the next item on Kupchak's to-do list will be figuring out who the Lakers will select as their reward for the worst season in franchise history. Judging by his comments to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com, it sounds like the Lakers are leaning towards adding to their frontcourt:

L.A. now has the chance to add an elite player to a young, talented roster that will feature the No. 2 overall selection for the 2nd straight season. Kupchak hinted that the Lakers feel pretty good about their backcourt situation, acknowledging that they could use some help elsewhere.

"Just looking at our white board, our depth chart, it's easy to make an argument we need a player in our frontcourt," he said. "Having said that, it's way too early or premature to say there is separation between two and three. We'll start to work players out and bring them in."


Kupchak wanting to add to the frontcourt makes more sense when considering that the two players widely held as head and shoulders above the rest of the draft class, Brandon Ingram and Ben Simmons, are both forwards. That is where the similarities between the two end however, and while the Lakers will likely take whichever one is left after Philadelphia selects the other with the first overall pick, which one of the two they prefer would reveal something about what traits the Lakers value in players.

Simmons is a mobile, 6'10 power forward who prefers to set up teammates rather than score himself. Ingram is listed just an inch shorter a 6'9, but weighs in at a wispy 196 pounds. Ingram can also play small forward by virtue of his prodigious shooting ability, as he shot 41 percent from behind the arc in his lone season at Duke.

Ingram actually seems to fit better with both the Sixers and the Lakers as the two team's rosters are currently constructed. The Lakers have invested two first round picks in the power forward position over the last two years, selecting Julius Randle in the lottery in 2014 and picking Larry Nance, Jr. 27th overall in 2015. Simmons will in all likelihood be better than both, so if the Sixers select Ingram the Lakers should still grab the Australian phenom and figure out the roster fit later.

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PostPosted: Tue May 17, 2016 10:12 pm    Post subject:

Mitch Kupchak Says Team ‘Hasn’t Discussed’ Trading Draft Pick
by Ryan Ward - lakersnation.com

After a month of uncertainty following the end 2015-16 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers finally learned their fate in the NBA Draft Lottery on Tuesday.

Fortunately for Los Angeles, the storied franchise was able to hold onto their first-round draft pick securing the second overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft. Now that the Lakers brass knows they have the second pick in the upcoming draft, the team can decide what direction they want to go in moving forward.

There’s been a lot of speculation over the last few weeks about the team’s intentions with their lottery pick if able to retain it. Although talk of a potential trade has circulated, longtime general manager Mitch Kupchak claims the team hasn’t talked about whether they’ll be trading their draft pick, via Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times:

Kupchak: "Do we keep the pick? Do we trade the pick? That's something we haven't discussed."
5:37 PM - 17 May 2016


A trade rumor surfaced recently suggesting the Lakers’ desire to trade their lottery pick if it ended up being third overall. If this rumor turns out to have some truth to it, Los Angeles doesn’t value players in the draft beyond LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram. Even though the Lakers have the second pick in the draft, a trade is still a plausible scenario.

At this point, Ingram is expected to go second on June 23 with many different NBA mock drafts having Simmons as this year’s top prospect. Although Simmons may be atop multiple mock drafts for the time being, that stance could easily change in the weeks ahead once teams start working out top-tier prospects.

It isn’t beyond the realm of possibility that Simmons won’t work out for teams leading up to the draft next month. Ingram may also sit out of workouts with certain teams, but he could also lock down the top spot if he turns in an impressive performance.

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PostPosted: Wed May 18, 2016 7:07 am    Post subject:

The Lakers are set for a huge summer after NBA Draft lottery bounces in their favor
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

The Lakers have even more riches at their disposal than last summer, making for what should be a huge summer for the franchise.

The Los Angeles Lakers are officially locked and loaded for a huge summer. Capturing the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft — a draft that many feels comes down to Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram as the clear-cut best prospects — was the final piece the Lakers needed to sprint forward into the future. Losing the pick would have been the final catastrophe left behind from the Byron Scott era, but keeping it? It almost makes the pain and suffering of watching what was at times a downright embarrassing basketball team through 82 games worth it.

This is the Scottshank Redemption. The Lakers crawled through 500 yards of sewage for their freedom. Let the pouring rain cleanse the stench away. Let the salvation rinse over you.

It's about far more than picking one of those two elite prospects, though. It's about the kind of asset the No. 2 selection becomes for the Lakers outside of being a drafted player, something we've already begun hearing whispers about. Perhaps they trade the pick to find an established star who can make an immediate impact. Perhaps this pick clears the way for the Lakers to trade one of their young players because another prospect — one they feel is a better bet in the now and later — is on the way. Lakers vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss recently alluded to the roster having just the right number of young players already, and finding a leader for these young men that new head coach Luke Walton can center the team around is certainly a viable option.

Perhaps it means the Lakers do both of those things, packaging the No. 2 pick and one of their young players to land the kind of elite player they'll absolutely have their sights on. The front office has the means to make godfather offer to any team they choose, even more-so than last time around. The kind of dish they can put on the table in front of any team is more than enough to whet the appetite of any basketball operations team. How many front offices can resist the mouth-watering opportunity to hit reset on a losing situation with not one, but two lottery players?

Maybe a few, but the locked-and-loaded Lakers have even more tricks up their sleeve to own the summer. Need to clear cap space in the process? Done. L.A. will have approximately $68 million in cap space at their disposal to use, and absorbing even two horrible contracts is something they can do while still having space to make a maximum-level contract offer to a top-tier free agent.

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PostPosted: Wed May 18, 2016 7:09 am    Post subject:

Luke Walton Tricked Into Thinking That LA Lost Their Draft Pick
by Eric Yee - lakeshowlife.com

“Ayy, y’all heard about the good news? Y’all sleeping on me, huh? Had a good snooze?” – Los Angeles Lakers to the rest of the league

It is finally over, it’s done. For the second straight year, the Fates have gazed kindly upon the Los Angeles Lakers, granting them yet another second overall draft pick in June’s upcoming NBA Draft.

That said, before the official draft lottery results were released by ESPN, the Golden State Warriors decided to have a little bit of fun at assistant coach, Luke Walton‘s expense.

According to Bill Oram of the OC Register, Walton who obviously didn’t have access to the internet or a television was tricked by the Warriors’ PR man, Raymond Ridder, into thinking that the Lakers had fallen to the fourth overall pick, hence losing it to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Before lottery, Warriors PR czar Raymond Ridder texted Luke Walton that Lakers got 4th pick. Luke fell for the prank, now has last laugh.
5:28 PM - 17 May 2016 · Oakland, CA, United States


For whatever reason, Walton reportedly fell for the prank and while it’s curious as to why he wasn’t watching the lottery live in the first place, the fact of the matter remains that Coach Walton and the rest of the Lakers’ fandom can rest easy knowing what they know now.

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PostPosted: Wed May 18, 2016 7:11 am    Post subject:

Piece of Staples Center floor used in Kobe Bryant's final game sells for $179,100
by Darren Rovell - espn.go.com

A piece of the Staples Center game floor specially made for Kobe Bryant's last game sold for $179,100.

It was the sixth 60-point game of Bryant's career and marked the most points scored by a player in his final regular-season game. No Hall of Famer reached 30 points in his final game, with John Havlicek's 29 in 1978 leading the way.

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PostPosted: Wed May 18, 2016 9:13 pm    Post subject:

Kevin Ding:
NBA Draft to See Simmons Go to Sixers, Say Sources, Leaving Ingram to Lakers
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2640896-nba-draft-to-see-simmons-go-to-sixers-say-sources-leaving-ingram-to-lakers?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national
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PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2016 12:44 am    Post subject:

Lakers to 'actively explore' trading second overall pick, according to report
by Harrison Faigen - silverscreenandroll.com

Could the front office value a "proven" player over adding another young one?

The Los Angeles Lakers received a major boon to their franchise on Tuesday night when a few ping pong balls bounced their way and left them with the second overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Most consider Duke's Brandon Ingram and LSU's Ben Simmons the top two players in the draft in some order before a major (perceived) talent drop-off, meaning the Lakers seem likely to select whichever of the two players Philadelphia doesn't choose first overall.

Reports have conflicted on who the Lakers would pick between the two players if given the choice. Chad Ford of ESPN reported that Simmons had the slight edge on Los Angeles' draft board on Tuesday, while Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report said that the team was "wowed" by Ingram during a pre-draft interview at the combine in Chicago while Philadelphia prefers Simmons.

Who Philadelphia or Los Angeles values may not matter, however, if they are not the ones actually making the selections. Ding reports that the Lakers will "actively explore trading the pick," and it sounds like the Sixers will do the same:

The 76ers, despite suggesting they don't anticipate trading the No. 1 pick that already had club officials dancing the night away in New York, actually may be the team more likely to get a draft deal done.

New general manager and team president Bryan Colangelo, hired to jump-start former GM Sam Hinkie's much maligned "process" that sucked the life out of the franchise, is very much looking to trade.

Colangelo has other picks and one of the big men from the youthful group of Nerlens Noel, Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid to offer. Atlanta Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, 27, would be a logical target with the rise of Dennis Schroder, 22.

But the 76ers also have in mind that Simmons can initiate a lot of offense, something they've lacked as much as outside shooting. And they're going to need time to grow anyway.


Putting aside how hilarious it would be if Philadelphia actually traded the first overall pick (rather than one of their other mentioned frontcourt players) for Teague, as Ding notes, neither team may be able to find appropriate value for their picks if they decide to deal them.

Whether or not Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and the rest of the front office "want to get better as soon as possible—in part to make sure Philadelphia doesn't get too good of a pick next year when the Lakers' first-rounder conveys to the 76ers if it's outside the top three," as Ding writes, it probably makes a lot more sense for the team to forgo immediate improvement and concentrate on developing a sustainable core going forward.

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PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2016 12:49 am    Post subject:

Lakers More Likely To Draft Brandon Ingram At No. 2? (video)
by lakersnation.com
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PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2016 12:51 am    Post subject:

Lakers looking forward to chance of drafting Brandon Ingram
by Keith Rivas - lasportshub.com

Lakers rumors point to Los Angeles being pretty excited with their spot in the 2016 NBA Draft.

According to a report by Lakers Nation, the Los Angeles Lakers are “thrilled” to be in the running for Duke star Brandon Ingram.

If the Lakers decide to stick with their looming draft selection, the popular idea is that it’ll be either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram.

The team needs raw talent above anything else, and these two prospects are at the top of their class.

Bleacher Report shared earlier this morning that Ben Simmons is the favorite of the Philadelphia 76ers now that the order of the draft is in effect and no longer speculation.

The Lakers were reportedly 'wowed' by Brandon Ingram's pre-draft interview http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2016/5/18/11701328/la-lakers-draft-rumors-ben-simmons-brandon-ingram-philadelphia-76ers?utm_campaign=hmfaigen&utm_content=chorus&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
11:56 AM - 18 May 2016


What this means is that Ingram, if all goes as suggested, would be the next-best option for the Lakers in the second overall slot.

With this being an even bigger decision than last year’s draft choice in D’Angelo Russell in terms of making the franchise great in a shorter span of time, the Lakers made it pretty clear what stood out to them about Brandon Ingram.

Per the Bleacher Report article:

Ingram’s drive to be great and dedication to winning, according to sources, resonated deeply with the Lakers’ front-office contingent…that would thrill the Lakers, who aren’t sure if Ingram isn’t better than Simmons.

The work ethic of Ben Simmons has come into question since the idea of him being drafted came about, so that’d clearly be a concern of Los Angeles if Ingram were to be drafted by Philadelphia.

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PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2016 12:53 am    Post subject:

76ers reportedly ‘leaning heavily toward’ drafting Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick
by Gary Kester - lakersoutsiders.com

Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram?

That is the decision facing the Philadelphia 76ers now that they have possession of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The two youngsters are in a class of their own above everyone else in this year’s draft class, making the decision a great “problem” to have.

For the Los Angeles Lakers, their choice is easy. After landing the No. 2 pick for the second consecutive season, they will presumably take whoever the Sixers elect not to. Both players appear to be neck-and-neck, jockeying for the No. 1 position in everyone’s NBA mock drafts.

While many believe Ingram is an ideal fit with both the 76ers and Lakers because of his massive shooting advantage over Simmons, Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding has heard that it is actually the LSU forward that could be the first name called by NBA commissioner Adam Silver on June 23 (h/t Silver Screen and Roll’s Harrison Faigen).

The Philadelphia 76ers are leaning heavily toward taking Simmons on June 23, according to league sources, with the No. 1 overall pick they landed in the NBA draft lottery Tuesday night.

That would set the Los Angeles Lakers up at No. 2 with Ingram, who already wowed them in his May 11 interview on opening day of the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Ingram’s drive to be great and dedication to winning, according to sources, resonated deeply with the Lakers’ front-office contingent.


Ding also notes the connections that the Sixers have to Simmons’ family. Head coach Brett Brown used to coach Simmons’ father in Australia, so that adds a very interesting dynamic to the belief that the 19-year-old might try to force his way to Los Angeles to reunite with old high school teammate D’Angelo Russell.

A lot of people consider Simmons to be the best player in the draft with the most superstar potential, but Ingram fits seamlessly in just about any offense, no matter the personnel. Despite Simmons looking like a man among boys in his lone season at LSU, there are also plenty of people that believe Ingram is the top prospect of this draft.

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PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2016 12:56 am    Post subject:

Brian Shaw weighing options, has standing offer to be Lakers’ assistant coach
by Honi Ahmadian - lakersoutsiders.com

Since Luke Walton was hired as the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, the topic of conversation has shifted to who will be added to the current Golden State Warriors’ assistant’s staff. There may be some clarity on that subject, soon.

The presumptive favorite to land a job on the new staff has been Brian Shaw. Shaw is a former Lakers player and coached for several years under Phil Jackson. Since then, he has been an assistant in Indiana in addition to having an unsuccessful tenure as the head coach of the Denver Nuggets.

Shaw spoke to Bill Oram of the OC Register and confirmed that he has a standing offer from the Lakers to join the staff but acknowledged that he has not yet made a decision:

“I have some decisions to make fairly shortly,” Shaw told the Southern California News Group on Wednesday night after the Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.

“I have an offer and I have some options,” Shaw said.


It was reported earlier on Wednesday by David Aldridge that Shaw was also being pursued by new Pacers head coach Nate McMillan for a similar position.

However, what seems to be the largest obstacle in Shaw’s way is more of a personal choice. As Oram reports, Shaw’s family lives in Oakland and the coach admitted that he would like to find some stability and to be around his kids as they grow up.

What makes this more interesting is that the Warriors will now have an opening on the coaching staff with Walton’s departure. Shaw admitted that he had reached out to Steve Kerr last summer in hopes of replacing current Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry, but Kerr had chosen to promote Walton.

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